Does war moderate the association between mental wellbeing and its predictors among children? A multi-country cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study explores how war or conflict influences the established predictors of mental well-being among children, addressing a significant gap in current research.

Methods

Utilizing data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS6) collected between 2016 and 2021, we examined children aged 5-17 years in four low or middle-low-income countries experiencing war or conflict and compared them to 20 control countries. We employed logistic models to analyze the data, focusing on mental well-being as the outcome. Primary independent variable was exposure to war, with an emphasis on the interaction between this exposure and potential predictors, including age, sex, having a physical disability, enrolled in education, having siblings, living with at least one parent, r

SUBMITTER: Chen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12042364 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature